Anchor for tank cars



Jan. 1l, 1944. F. G. GARLocK TAL ANCHOR FOR TANK GARS Filed July 3, 1942 flac/f Feder Patented Jan. 11, 1944 Frederick G.' Garlock, Chicago', Ill.; and John R...

Mull, Gary, Ind., assignorsgto `GreneralAmei-,igcan Transportation Corporation, Chicagllll., a corporation of New York Application July 3, 1942, Serial No. 449,576

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in anchoring means for securing against displacement the tanks of tank cars with respect to the underframes of saidy cars;

One of the objects ofthe invention is to facilitate -the construction and fabrication of the anchoringA means' with respect to the ltank'and 1111-' derframe by the provision ofv a structurev which isV especially adaptedy to the machine method of welding together the Various parts thereof.

A further object is to reinforce the tank Wall inthe region of the anchoring means and to distribute the stresses from the anchor-into the tank v wall or shell to prevent the cracking of the tank shell by the provision of an intermediate plate member between the tank and the anchor members.

Another object is to so arrange the-parts ofthe anchoring means that the weldedA connections between the anchor parts andA between the anchoring meansfand the tank canjbe-'given any desired strength relationship-to insurethe tank against damage in the event that this structure is subjected to breaking or shearing forces.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawing which illustrates one embodiment f the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a broken view in side elevation of a portion of a tank and the car underframe, and showing the anchor structure interposed therebetween;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the anchor structure shown in Fig. 1, with a, portion of the tank wall shown above said anchor structure;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on line 4-4 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse section similar to Fig. 4 of a modification of the anchor structure adapted to the riveted type of car underframe.

The drawing shows a portion of a conventional tank A which is horizontally disposed and cylin drical in shape, and which is disposed above and in parallel relation to the center sill B which constitutes a part of the underframe of the car, a suicient portion of the center sill being shown to illustrate the application or adaptability of the anchoring means thereto.

In Figs. 4 and 5, two types of center sill in common use are shown. That center sill C which is shown in Fig. 4 is of the welded type and is provided with a top plate I running the length of the anchor` and which is of suiiiciently greater width than the center sill to provide outstanding lateral lengthwise flanges 2 to which'thevtank anchormeans is secured;l Thisgtop plateis welded preferably throughout the length' thereof; as indicated at 3 in the angles between the `flange portions 2 and thel vertical -Walls or webs of the center sill member. In the riveted type ofV center'sill D; as shown in Fig. 5, the center sill members are inthe form Iof channels, the anges 4 of which extend laterally outwardly andv provide means with whichthe anchor members are connectedv or secured.'

The anchor members E are angle-shapedor L-sh'aped members which extend inparallel relationy lengthwise of and above the centerssill. These angle members have their flanges 5 'disposed laterally outwardly and rest upon the flanges 2 or 4 of the center sill to which-they are secured, preferably by a longitudinalfseries of rivets B: t is understood, ofcourse, that this connection'l between the `angle members-and the center sill flanges may be a Welded connection, if desired. The other portions l of these angle members extend substantially vertically and form uprights which are preferably disposed in substantial alignment with the Vertical walls of the center sill members C or D. These uprights are transversely spanned at their upper edges by a plate member 8 which is intermediate the anchor members and the tank shell or wall 9. The upper edges or margins of the anchor members abut the under face of the intermediate plate and are fillet welded preferably throughout their entire length to the under face of said plate, as shown more clearly in Figs. 4 and 5. The welded connections l0 are made in both the inner and outer angles formed between the anchor portions 1 and the intermediate plate 8.

The intermediate plate 8 is curved transversely to conform to the curved tank shell or wall 9, and forms a reinforcement member for the tank wall.

This reinforcement plate extends longitudinally beyond the ends of the anchor members E and is preferably wider than the distance between the anchor members throughout the length thereof. The intermediate reinforcement plate may be oval or elliptical in shape or it may have curved or pointed ends. Preferably, however, as illustrated in the drawing, it is rectangular in shape, so that its marginal edges are disposed in long straight lines, which is better adaptable to machine welding methods. The plate, as shown, is fillet-welded at ll along its longitudinal margins, and at I2 along its end margins to the under face of the tank shell or wall 9. Additional connection of the intermediate plate With the tank Wall is obtained by plug Welds I3, which, in the present construction, are disposed in a central longitudinal series. The plate is provided with a series of holes I4 before assembly, and these holes are lled with weld metal when the plate is in place.

The reinforcement plate extendsover a considerable area of the tank wall in the region of the anchor, and the attachment thereof around the margins of the plate provides a very efiective means of distribution of the stresses from the anchor into the tank shell and avoids a concentration of stresses which are more likely to crack the tank shell. If it is desired to provide for a tank sump, or for vvalve or other fittings, the intermediate plate 8 may be provided with a cutout l5 which in the present case is more or less elliptical. In the event such cutout is provided, the margin of the opening is preferably welded, as indicated at I6, to the tank shell. f

It is obvious that the welding operations can all be accomplished by the hand method, if desired, but it will be noted that the entire structure is so arranged that the Welded connections between the parts are disposed in long continuous straight lines, and therefore especially adaptable to the machine method of welding. This adaptability to machine welding operations is further facilitated by the parts of the structure being so related that the joints are readily accessible for machine welding. 'I'his arrangement also makes possible the proportioning of the strengths of the riveted connections and the Welded connections so that any desired strength relationship may be obtained between these connection points; for instance, in accordance with standard railroad requirements the strength of the connections between the underframe and anchor should not be over 70% of the strength of the connections between the anchor and the tank.

'I'hus the welded connections 3 can be made less than '70% of the strength of connections Il, I2, and I3, and the welded connection I0 may be made intermediate in strength.

We claim:

l. In a tank car, the combination of an underframe including a center sill, a tank spaced above the center sill, a curved elongated reinforcing plate underlying the tank and transversely conformed to the contour of the tank wall and continuously Welded along its marginal edges to said tank Wall, said plate having Within the area thereof a series of plug welds securing the plate to the tank wall, a pair of elongated upright members disposed in parallel relation lengthwise of the center sill and plate, and spaced apart substantially the width of the center sill, said members being butted edgewise to the under face of said plate and continuously Welded along their upper margins to the under face of said plate, and having along their lower margins outstanding lateral ilanges secured to said center sill.

2. In a tank car, the combination of an underframe including a center sill having outstanding lateral flanges, a tank surmounting said center sill, and means for anchoring said tank, including a pair of parallelly disposed L-shaped members spaced apart, and having outstanding lateral flanges resting upon and secured to the center sill anges, said L-shaped members having vertical portions, and an anchor plate transversely curved to conform to the curvature of the tank wall and secured to the tank Wall by continuous machine welding along its edges, said anchor plate being secured on its under face by continuous machine welding to the upper edges of said angle member vertical portions, and a series of plug Welds in said plate securing the plate tc the tank Wall.

FREDERICK G. GARLOCK. JOHN R. MULL. 

